Irish rider Dan Martin is set to make his debut with UAE Team Emirates at the Volta ao Algarve in Portugal.

Martin joined UAE from Quick-Step Floors after having proven his capacities as a stage race leader. The 31-year-old has good memories from the Volta ao Algarve, having won a stage and finishing sixth overall in last year's edition.

"Going in Volta ao Algarve I have a mixture of nerves and excitement," Martin said. "There is always anxiety to get back to racing and find out where the fitness levels are, but I feel good and have trained well in the winter months, but racing is of course always different.

"It’s exciting to finally pin a number on the UAE Team Emirates jersey and start racing with a great group of guys. Of course it will take time to learn how to race well together but we already did two nice training camps with lots of laughs and getting to know each other.

"We have a very strong team coming to Algarve so I can’t wait to get started," he concluded.

The team for the Volta ao Algarve will consist of no less than six nationalities, with directeur sportifs Philippe Mauduit (France) and Simone Pedrazzini (Switzerland) bringing the total amount of nationalities to eight.

The 2018 Volta ao Algarve starts on February 14 and finishes on February 18.